Marcus Casey
March 19, 2007 09:51am

SUBURBAN heroines Kath and Kim have conquered
Australia, are ready to take on the US and are so
cashed up they've begun independently filming a new
series.

The team behind the comedy - actors Jane Turner, Gina
Riley and her husband Rick McKenna - are still
negotiating with commercial networks after the first
three eight-part series and telemovie aired on the
ABC.

"We start shooting (today) but can't talk at the
moment because we are focused on the creative
process," McKenna said yesterday.

"But at this stage we're going ahead without yet
finalising details with an Australian broadcasting
partner.

"It's too early to say where it will end up - but
that's all I can say."

They've been able to do so - at an estimated $250,000
per episode - thanks to a deal with US broadcasting
giant NBC.

It has ordered a 30-minute pilot, usually costing more
than $US1.5 million, with American actors for that
giant market.

Their biggest supporter is Los Angeles based executive
producer Ben Silverman, a proven hitmaker and the man
behind US hits Ugly Betty, The Biggest Loser and the
US version of UK sitcom The Office.

He has held extensive meetings with the team and
believes the US is ready for a remake of Kath and Kim.


"I love the original - I love, love the show,"
Silverman told The Daily Telegraph.

"It's one of the funniest I've ever seen and we've
just written a script and NBC is confident enough to
produce a pilot this summer."

Riley Turner Productions have spoken to each of the
Australian commercial networks, who have all told The
Daily Telegraph they would love the show at the right
price.

The ABC has made two offers for the new series but the
K&K team are contractually allowed to negotiate before
the ABC has the right for a last offer.

Source: Daily Telegraph



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